Ishikawa, Taiga

Boku no kareshi wa doko ni iru [Where is my boyfriend?]

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Kodansha, Tokyo. 2002, 219p., text in Japanese, very good first edition in boards and unclipped dj. Engaging first person narrative by a young man about what it's like growing up gay in contemporary Japan; in more recent years Ishikawa has become a very rare example of an openly gay politician in Japan. Ishikawa appears in a large photograph on the cover and uses his real name. He discusses his experiences as teenager, first thoughts about being gay, terror on a junior high overnight school trip; worry that classmates would find out, etc; coming out experience as college student; first love; forging connections with gay activists - in this last chapter, Ishikawa discusses his co-ordination with Ito Satoru and Yanase Ryuta, who are activists providing workshops and outreach to kids in Japanese schools about sexual diversity. Ito and Yanase are a couple and have authored (together and individually) several other books about being gay since the mid-'90s - but the tone of this book by a member of the next generation is lighter and less preachy. Ishikawa became an assemblyman in the Toshima Ward, and in 2015, he ran for a seat in the Lower House but lost.